What is Trekking?

Zephyr defines trekking as "multi-day hiking without having to carry your gear." In Peru, our gear is carried by porters (or by vehicle for our Sacred Valley Trek) and we have a full camp staff to assist you. This means you hike unencumbered, free to click photos like crazy or run up a hillside to get a better view and not be weighted down with the responsibilities of cooking or setting up camp. Our trekking philosophy allows average hikers – like you – to get to extraordinary places on your vacation.

Difficulty Level

See this comparison chart of our treks. Everyone's perception of "difficult" or "easy" is relative! We've had people complete a trek and say it was easy, while another person on the very same trek found it to be one of the most challenging (yet rewarding) physical feats they'd ever accomplished. There are many factors that influence your perception, including your overall fitness level and your attitude about traveling and camping in a foreign country. The elevations at which our treks take place add a layer of difficulty in and of themselves, but we build time into our schedule for proper acclimatization in the Sacred Valley prior to our trekking on the Inca Trail (you will need to do on your own prior to our Sacred Valley Trek). If you are unsure which trip is best for you, please contact us so we can assist you.

Timing: When to Travel and When to Book

The dry season, which is important when hiking, runs from mid-April through October or mid-November. This is the best time to visit the area. The tourist season, when the area is most crowded, runs from June through August (correlating to the North American summer) and might make getting Inca Trail passes more difficult. The number of trekkers on the Inca Trail (including porters and guides) is limited to only 500 people per day. Consider our Sacred Valley Trek if passes are sold out or you are planning your trip at the last minute, since it does not require a trail pass. Depending on when you go, you should try to plan your trip six months or more in advance.

In any case, all your travel logistics (except your transportation to Peru) are taken care of for you when you travel with us, saving you countless hours, if not days and weeks, of research and planning. You generally just need to choose your trip and purchase your airfare to Peru and back home. We meet you at the airport and your vacation begins from there! At the end of the tour, we transport you back to the Cusco airport, where you can catch your flight home (or extend your trip on your own). This is a great option for those who have limited time for planning a vacation and beneficial for those who are nervous about traveling in a foreign country on their own.